Timer for gas-engines.



H. J. GERPHEIDE.

TIMER FOR GAS ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULYII. 1917.

Patented June 18, 1918.

fia o/d J Gar Mazda a citizen of the United States,

OFFICE.

HAROLD J. GEBPHEIDE, or sourn 1mm), marina I TIMER FOB. GAB-ENG INES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented une 18, 1918,

Application filed Jul 11, 1917. Serial in. 179,901.

To all whom it may concern; v

Be it known that I, HAROLD J. Grmrnnmm, residing at South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Timers for Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to an improvement in timers of that type, as used particularly on Ford automobiles, wherein the wire leads to the fixed contacts are arranged exteriorly of the timer and wholly free of protection. With such a type of timer the Wires are exposed to the accumulation of dirt, oil, or the like, which tends to destroy their insulation, and frequently results in imperfect timing action.

The main object of the present invention therefore is the construction-of a timer in which the wires are or may be completely housed, while at the same time, through the removal of a closure adapted for removal, such wires or their connections to the fixed contacts of the timer, are readily accessible for any and all purposes.

The wire housin of the timer includes an annular channe into which the fixed contact posts project, and in which the wires leading from such posts are housed, the channel having a removable cover plate, and the timer casing having an integral wire-receiving channel leading to the center of the casing from the housing, all of thewires passing through said channel. A coupling, through which thewires pass beyond the casing has a rotary bearing or slip-v joint connection with the casing, and beyond the casing is connected to an ordinary type of wire conduit. The holding spring ordinarily employed for securing the timer casing in place bears upon the coupling, so that the caslng when moved, as in advancing-01* retarding the spark, rotates in efi'ect on the coupling and engine base wall, preventing undue movement of the wires under such ad'ustment of the casing.

The invention in the preferred form is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing the improved timer construction.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of 1.

The present invention is, as prevlously stated, directed to improving the t mer usually employed in Ford automobile ignition parts, so that the wires formi'n of such timing structure, com letely rotected.

T e usua timer casing 1 is of conical formatlon, havin an annular base wall 2 1n which, throug proper insulating units 3 are mounted the fixed contacts 4, adapted to be successively engaged by the rotor contact 5, mounte on and operated by the timing shaft 6. The free or inner the wall 2 is mounted in a circular recess 7 in the en e base wall 8, a rotary bearmg bemg t us provided for the casing to part may be 111 y and permit its necessary movement in advancing or retarding the spark, as through the dashoperated connection 9.

The fixed contacts 4 extend beyond the wall 2 in the form of binding posts 10, and the respective wires 11 are adapted for connection to these posts. As heretofore c0nstructed the wires are entirely free beyond the casing, so far as any protective means is concerned, with the result that these wires are comparatively short lived, electrically speaking, as theyare exposed to all accumulations and contact wear.

The present invention contemplates the complete housing of these wires, and to this end the casing 1 is provided with a wire housing arranged about the wall 2 of such casing. The housing comprises spaced par-- allel walls 12 and 13 projecting at right edge of angles to and outwardly from the casing wall 2. The inner surfaces of the free edges of the walls 12 and 13 are recessed at 14 to receive a cover plate 15, preferably in-the f form of a split ring having out-turned ears 16 at the meeting ends, to be en aged by a securing means, such as a nut an bolt 17.

An annularhousing is thus formed about the casing, inewhich housing the binding post ends of the fixed contacts 4 are located, together withjthe wires leading from said binding posts. The housing is closed on its outer side by a cover plate which may be readily removed at will, and when removed, fully and completely exposes all connections within the housing, so that the parts may be readily reached for adjustment or repair.

The conical wall of the casing is provided with a hollow enlargement, extending radially thereof, as at 18, this enlargement opening at one end into the housing described, andat the opposite end into an annular bearing section 19, forming the apex of the casing; The annular section 19 is through the channel 18, through the cou-'.

pling 21 and conduit22, bein protected at all times from dirt accumu ations, from wearing contacts, to thus materially in-- crease the length of use of such wire connections.

The casing as an entirety is, as stated, movable to advance or retard the spark, and to provide for the complete separation of the casing from the engine wall when desired, a spring strip 23 has been heretofore employed. -T is stri heretofore secured to the engine wall an movably bearing on the apex of the casing, is to be used in the present structure, though in this instance the bearing end of the spring engages the coupling 21, in line with the apex of the casing. This permits axial movement of the casing, without permitting movement of the coupling, the slip-joint connection between the coupling and easing taking care of such relative movement. All parts are readily removable by displacing one end of the spring plate 23 the bearing end of such plate being pre erably formed with a pro- ]ection 2 to seat in a depression 25 in the coupling 21.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A timer casing having fixed contacts projecting through one wall thereof, a housing integral with the'casing and inclosing the projecting portions'of said contacts, an enlargement on the casin forming a channel.in communication wit the housing, and a conduit coupling in communication with the channel nad havin a slip-joint connection with and axially o the casing, whereby the casing may have rotative movement without moving the coupling.

2. A timer casing having fixed contacts projecting throu h one wall thereof, a housing integral wit the casing and inclosing the projecting portions of said contacts, an enlargement on the casing forming a channel in communication with the housing, a conduit coupling in communication with the channel and having a slip-joint connection with and axially of the casing, to permit the latter to have rotative movement without moving the coupling, and means bearing upon the coupling to secure the parts in relative ositions.

3. A timer casing mounted for rotary ad- 'ustment and having fixed contacts rojectlng through one wall thereof, spaced annular walls projecting at right angles to the axis of the casing and to the first-mentioned wall thereoi a removable cover plate engaging the rec edges of the said annular walls, to provide an inclosed housing about said contacts, a conduit couplin having a slip-joint connection with and axially of the casing to permit the latter to have rotative movement without moving the coupling, and a conduit secured to the coupling and fixed against movement.

. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HAROLD J. GERPHEIDE. 

